Rangers add right-handed bench depth with Trevor Plouffe

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Texas Rangers right fielder Nomar Mazara (30) is tagged out by Oakland Athletics third baseman Trevor Plouffe (3) during the seventh inning of an MLB game between the Texas Rangers and the Oakland Athletics on Saturday, May 13, 2017 at Globe Life Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Ashley Landis/The Dallas Morning News)

The Rangers added some right-handed bench depth for spring training Monday by agreeing to a minor league deal with veteran Trevor Plouffe, the club confirmed.

Plouffe, 31, has played all four corner infield and outfield spots in his eight-year major league career. He has also has 70 career starts at the middle infield positions. Plouffesplit last season between Oakland Tampa Bay and hit .198 with a .590 OPS in 283 plate appearances.

While Plouffe is primarily a third baseman, he is expected to compete more with Ryan Rua for at-bats and a spot on the roster. Rua has more experience in the outfield, though, but Plouffe has a higher career OPS (.790) against left-handed pitching than Rua (.741). Both players struggled against lefties in 2017.

Plouffe would also give the Rangers another option in the unlikely event they decide to move on from or trade out-of-options utility infielder Jurickson Profar.

A year ago, the Rangers went to camp with third baseman Adrian Beltre battling a calf muscle injury that ended up costing him the first third of the season. Beltre is expected to arrive in camp healthy this year, general manager Jon Daniels said last week.